Escape scuttle



1949 J. P. CASTELLANO 2,488,524

ESCAPE SCUTTLE Filed June 50, 1 945 I I 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. f05cp/7 P Casfd/zno A TTO/QNE )1 Nov. 22, 1949. J. P. CASTELLANO ESCAPE SCUTTLE 5 Sheets-Sheet? Filed June 30, 1945 INVENTOR. Joseph P CcZS/Cf/MO I ATTOKW7T 1949 J. P. CASTELLANO 2,488,524

ESCAPE SCUTTLE Filed June so, 1945 s Sheets-Sheeft 5 IN VEN TOR. fo cfp/l P Cask/A2110 Patented Nov. 22, 1949 UNITE D STATES (Granted under the .1 act they: can beropened andlclosed rapidly and easily.

With: the present invention, rotation of a single wheel will actuate rtheslocking mechanism: .of the cover permitting-it to .be unlocked and opened or closed :and locked.

An object of this invention is to provide a cover for an escape scuttlethat. cansbe quicklynnlocked andropened enclosed and locked.

Another. object, is to vprovide such acover havinglockingmechanism that is positive acting and canz-Joaactuatedwith ajminimum of eifort.

Stillanother Object is to provide locking mechv anism' for an escape scuttle cover which is of relatirelysimpleconstruction-andwillnot jam or get outnof rorderva Fnrtherrobjects andadvantages .of this invert-- tion, .aswell as its construction, arrangement and, operation; will, be apparent from the following deg scription Land-claims ,in connection with the ace companying drawings in which 7 Rig-urevlfis a planview'of the under side or 30 inside of; anescape scuttle embodying the: presentinyentionwith the inner handwheel removed,

FigureZ is a cross sectional view partly in elevatiomtaken along the lines 22 of Figure -1 with,

theLaddition-of portions of the inner handwheel .35;

spokes,,-,

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of one of the lock-h ingmechanism employed, with the retracted posi-r tiqnrof the camshown in dotted lines, and

Figured is a side expandedvview of. a ,Cam'fO1 '40r' use'inzther-present invention and its cooperating rollembearing;

The-drawings show an escape scuttle havinga. cover-:1 lv pivotally connected to a deck or. bulk?- he,ad;1l2- 1by;a hinge l3 mounted on a support I445;-

extending -from the deck. The cover ll fits over the coaming 15 of an escape opening inthe decks Thehcoaming l5 shown herein is a metal band whieh;is;. preferably welded in the opening and:

projects outwardly toward the cover II. It may me alsov extend a short distance beyond the opposite sidegofgthendeck; forming a flange It. While-the: cover;- and :opening are preferably round as shown; herein:;they may ,be square .or ofother regular; shapezzrl V.

The cover-l lis'prov'ided wit-hia peripheralrflanges I'l [o-fagneater diameter than thexdiametr ofitheil coam-ing. A \-stiffening ringl8 5 is positioned on: the inside of the :cover-zl I between theouter flanges l l zandllanl innen/stiffening flange 9:, overlyingthe stifien-ingring. l 8 is an annularwgasket 12 G pre-e ferably made of resilientamaterialrsuch asrubberz;r Gasketlkeepers :2 I .hold ,the-igasket in; place. With the :cover .-I l inclosed position thegasket 201; abutsthe outer rim (of .=the coaming; .I Stand seals '1; the opening... V

The .coverul l is provided with a central opening; in which as zbushing.. 2 2 lis .positioned..-- A shaft. 23 v extends through the bushing 22 'projectingradis--- tance. on eachrside of the cover. The .space ..be tween the bushingiZZLand .theshafti23lis' filled. withpackirigfl secured in place bya glandpacking washer 25 and'a gland screw 26.'

Apreferablyrcircular cam plate 28 having reinforcing rib"s 29'is" secured to the inner portion of shaflT23iby'a splinei30? To permiteasy rotation of'th'ecam'platewitlrrespect tocover II a ball. bearing-is positionedbetweenthe-two; the upper race 3l being-securedtothe-cover"l I and the lower? race 32 being carried by the cam plate 28.

'Also'splined te-theshaft 23 are*handwheels'-33 and 34', the-'-former*being*positioned"adjacentthe outer end bf 'shaft- 23 and the latter--adjacent the inner-end of-the shafti Nuts 35*screwed 'on'th'e'- ends ofishaft' 23 holdthe handwheels onth'esh'aft.

In the preferred construction threecurvedcams 3 B- are Welded to the inner- -orunderside of l the cam plate: 28 adjacent the-peripherythereof as shown particularly in Figured: Asr the cams -36 are identicalit will suflice 'to describe one of them: I Throughout one end-portion, cam;.:3B- has a uni-s formzrcurvature so as-toparalle'l the periphery of thescamcplate in. The opposite end portion ofthe carnisrmore sharplylbent so that it gradually approaches .wcl'oserl to'zthe center of the oam plate 28a: The cam'i'BBt increases inxlepthzfromi one end" torthecothem. It sislvof runiform depththroughoutc the:portion:ofisharpest'cum/ature and then gradua ally; increases cin-cdepthsto ;a point-xnear its outer: end, where it decreases slightly to provide a locked: position-and: preventback'up as illustrated in Fi'gr 1111824; Thus; thelend ,of the cam 3B adjacent the: periphery;= of'wthe cam; plate 28 projects farther from thezcam plate-than the-inner end of they cam.

Three--,equa1ly spaced- 'dog 1 -carriersv-3'l' are se-- cured by welding or other suitable-means to :the=-; inner side of, the cover ll radially-outwardly of the-.-;cam.- plate 28a- Each ,!dog' carrier':;31 .is sub= stantia-lly ueshaped rin cross sectionwith abase-e and-.two sides-forming alcentraltlongitndinabslot, ,v

3 and is positioned so the slot extends substantially radially of the cover II.

In the preferred arrangement one side of the slot lies along a radial line of the cover. An adjusting screw 38 extends through the base of the dog carrier 31 into the slot preferably substantially midway between the ends thereof, and operates as a fulcrum for the dog 43. It is provided with a locking nut 39. A compression spring 40 and a compression-spring bushing 4I are positioned in an upwardly extending bore in the inner end of the dog-carrier base with the bushing 4I extending above the base.

A dog 43 is slidably positioned in the longitudinal slot of each dog carrier 31 so that it may be moved inwardly toward the center of the cam plate or outwardly toward the periphery of cover I I. The outer end of dog 43 is cutaway to provide a lip portion 44 which, when the dog is moved outwardly, engages the flange I6 of the coaming I5. The opposite or inner end of the dog 43 is provided with a stud shaft 45 adjacent the bottom of the dog about which a roller bearing is mounted. The inner ball race 46 is fixed to the stud shaft 45 and the outer race 41 rotates about the balls 48. A bearing keeper 49 maintains the bearing in place.

The upper, inner end of the dog 43, together with the upper end of the bearing keeper 49 and the rotating surface of the bearing form a slot 50 in which the cam 36 rides. In order to reduce friction, the portions of the dog 43 and bearing keeper 49 forming the sides of the slot 50 are rounded as shown in Figure 1.

A dog keeper 52 is pivotally connected to a pin 53 extending between the sides of the dog carrier 31 above the dog 43. Mounted on the dog keeper 52 is a compression-spring pilot 52a for maintaining a compression spring 54 in position between the dog keeper 52 and the inner face of the cover I I. The compression spring 54 urges the dog 43 against the exposed end of the adjusting screw 38 in the bottom of the dog carrier 31.

To operate the locking mechanism it is necessary only to rotate one of the handwheels 33 or 34 part of a complete rotation. Starting with the dogs 43 in the inner or unlocked position shown in dotted lines on Figure 3, rotation of the cam plate 28 first moves the dogs 43 outwardly, their full distance. During this part of the operation the inner ends of the dogs are urged upwardly by spring 43 which results in the dog lip 44 being slightly spaced from or only lightly touching the coaming flange I6. Further rotation of the cam plate forces the inner ends of the dogs 43 towards the base of the dog carrier 31 and rocks the dog on the fulcrum provided by the adjusting screw 38 to bring the dog lip 44 tightly against the coaming flange I6, thus sealing the hatch. Rotating the cam plate 28 in the opposite direction reverses the action hereinabove described and permits the cover II to be opened.

While reference has been made to the use of the escape scuttle in boats and ships, it may also be used in walls, ceilings or similar structures.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes can be made in this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. A closure mechanism adapted for use in an escape scuttle comprising a cover shaped to fit an escape opening, a cam plate centrally and rotatably mounted on one side of said cover, a curved cam secured to said plate adjacent the periphery thereof having one end closer to the point of rotation of said plate and projecting a lesser distance from said plate than the other end, a dog carrier fixedly mounted on said cover outwardly of said cam having a guide slot therein extending substantially radially of said cover, a dog of less height than the height of said slot slidably positioned in said slot, said dog having a groove adjacent the inner end for engaging said cam, a member projecting from the bottom of said dog carrier into said slot to permit longitudinal rocking movement of said dog, resilient means tending to maintain said dog adjacent said projecting member, resilient means for urging the inner end of said dog toward said cam, and means for rotating said cam plate whereby said dog may be moved longitudinally and rocked in said slot.

2. A closure mechanism adapted for use in an escape scuttle comprising a cover shaped to fit an escape opening, a substantially round cam plate centrally and rotatably mounted on the inner side of said cover, a curved cam secured to the exposed side of said plate adjacent the periphery thereof having one end closer to the center of said plate and projecting a lesser distance from said plate than the other end, a dog carrier fixedly mounted on the irmer side of said cover outwardly of said cam having a guide slot therein extending substantially radially of said cover, a dog slidably positioned in said slot and having a groove adjacent the inner end for engaging said cam, resilient means tending to maintain said dog adjacent the bottom of said slot, an adjustable member projecting from the bottom of said dog carrier into said slot to position said dog and permit longitudinal rocking movement thereof, and means extending on both sides of said cover for rotating said cam plate whereby said dog may be moved longitudinally and rocked in said slot.

3. In a closure mechanism having a cam-actuated dog slidably mounted within a slot in a dog carrier for longitudinal movement therein, a member projecting from the bottom of said dog carrier into said slot, and resilient means associated with said dog carrier for urging the outer portion of said dog downward about said member toward the bottom of said slot.

4. In a closure mechanism having a cam-actuated dog slidably mounted within a slot in a dog carrier for longitudinal and rocking movement therein, a member projecting into said slot from the bottom of said dog carrier and resilient means associated with said dog carrier and slidably engaging said dog for urging the outer portion of said dog downward about said member toward the bottom of said slot during said longitudinal movement of said dog.

5. In a closure mechanism having a cam-actuated dog slidably mounted within a slot in a dog carrier for longitudinal and rocking movement therein, a cam engaging an inner top portion of the dog, a fulcrum for the dog, resilient means associated with the dog carrier and slidably engaging the dog for exerting a turning moment around the fulcrum whereby the outer portion of the dog is urged downwardly and the inner end of the dog is urged upwardly toward the cam during the longitudinal movement of the dog.

6. In a closure mechanism having a cam-actuated dog slidably mounted within a slot in a dog carrier for longitudinal and rocking movement therein, a cam engaging an inner top portion of said dog, an adjustable member projecting from the bottom of said dog carrier into said slot to position said dog and permit longitudinal rocking movement thereof, resilient means associated with said dog carrier and slidably engaging said dog for urging the outer portion of said dog downward against said member, and a second resilient means associated with said dog carrier and slidably engaging said dog for urging the inner portion of said dog upward toward said cam.

7. Closure mechanism comprising a rim, one or more dog-s extending in a direction across the rim, a dog carrier for each dog comprising a slot guiding longitudinal movement thereof, a cam operable to actuate the dog longitudinally of itself in the slot alternatively to advance to or retract from a position opposite the rim, a fulcrum for the dog in the slot engaging the dog slidably during its longitudinal movement, resilient means operating between each carrier and its dog to urge the dog laterally of itself pivotally on the fulcrum in the direction away from the rim, and a cam operating to actuate the dog laterally of itself opposed to the resilient means into engagement with the rim.

8. Closure mechanism comprising a rim, one or more dogs extending in a direction across the rim, 2, dog carrier for each dog comprising a slot fguiding longitudinal movement thereof, a cam operable to actuate the dog longitudinally of itself in the slot alternatively to advance to or retract from a position opposite the rim, a fulcrum for the dog in the slot engaging the dog "slidably during its longitudinal movement, resilient means engaging the dog slidably during its longitudinal movement, and operating between each carrier and its dog to urge the dog laterally of itself pivotally on the fulcrum in the direction away from the rim, and a cam operating to actuate the dog laterally of itself opposed to the resilient means into engagement with the rim.

JOSEPH P. CASTELLANO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES- PATENTS 

